Sun.Star: NGO launches eco-cultural tours to save rice terraces

Kiangan, Ifugao -- "Preserving the culture that nurtures the rice terraces for thousands of years." This was the theme of the Bakle'd Kiangan organized by the Save the Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo), a non-government organization whose main thrust is to advance the campaign for the protection of the Ifugao rice terraces. Bakle is the culminating celebration for the rice terraces cycle. It is a thanksgiving ritual for the bulul (rice god). The Bakle'd Kiangan tour held from August 24-26 and hosted by Sitio Bayninan in Barangay Nagacadan in Kiangan started with a visit to some of the tourist sites of the municipality. Participants were composed mainly of professionals from Manila and a Peace Corps volunteer from Scotland. The second day of the tour was the main event where participants witnessed the pounding of glutinous rice and had a chance to taste the local wine or baya. They were also fed with binakle, the end-product of the pounded glutinous rice added with sugar and sesame seeds and wrapped in banana leaves. Participants passed through rice paddies on their way to the site and had a stopover in every sitio to witness the presentation of the pounding of rice of the residents clad in their traditional costumes. A short program graced by Ifugao Governor Teddy Baguilat Jr., who is the honorary chairman of SITMo, and a bountiful lunch concluded the bakle celebration. The participants then proceeded to Banaue for a cultural night and tree planting activity. The bakle is just one of the tours organized by SITMo to promote the preservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces through eco-cultural tourism. SITMo organizers hoped to deepen the appreciation of tourists of the rich Ifugao heritage through an immersion with the residents of the terraces communities. Part of the proceeds of the tours goes to the host communities as trust fund to be used in the conservation work of the terraces and promotion of indigenous knowledge. Livelihood is also provided to the people through guide fees and marketing of their indigenous products. The rice cycle would again start on October and SITMo would be organizing tours for the land preparation (lodah/lida), planting season in Hungduan (Tunod ad Hungduan), ritual to protect the rice crop from rats and pests (Tagtag Ad Asipulo), and the harvest festival (Pfoto' Ad Majawjaw). Through these eco-cultural tours, SITMo is hoping to mobilize support from other provinces and countries for the preservation of heritage sites and the fading indigenous culture of the Ifugaos. The organization also promotes spelunking, white water rafting and mountain climbing in coordination with the Provincial Tourism Office, Kiangan Municipal Tourism Office and Hungduan Municipal Tourism Office. Eco-cultural show is one of their main programs presenting the culture and the different native dances, songs, and chants. - Sun.Star